Vacuum cleaner nozzle

ABSTRACT

A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner in which a rod having a knurled surface is provided in a rug cleaning surface for loosening lint, hair, thread and such litter on the rug surface so that this litter is entrained in the airflow through the nozzle opening.

a United States Patent Ferris [451 May 2,1972

[54] VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE [72] Inventor: William E. Ferris, Stamford, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Consolidated Foods Corporation, Old

Greenwich, Conn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 9, 1968 [21] Appl.No.: 782,348

[52] U.S.Cl ..15/402, 15/417 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 9/06 [58] Field of Search ..15/393, 363, 365, 367, 369, 15/373, 401, 402, 420, 364, 368, 371

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,015 6/1953 Lovick ..15/369 2,862,225 12/1958 Stevensm, ....15/369 X 930,134 8/1909 Blackall ..15/374 X 1,848,731 3/1932 Langer ..15/402 X 1,936,369 11/1933 Riebel, Jr. et al.... 2,622,265 12/1952 Allen 15/402 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 29,570 12/1909 Great Britain l5/420 222,082 7/1962 Austria 15/420 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Att0rneyThomas C. Betts [57] ABSTRACT A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner in which a rod having a knurled surface is provided in a rug cleaning surface for loosening lint, hair, thread and such litter on the rug surface so that this litter is entrained in the airflow through the nozzle.

opening.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures P'ATE'N'I'EBIM 21912 2 3,659,313

INVENTOR Mu Inn E. FIRE/J Jaw/4M VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Combs for suction cleaning nozzles are known from US. Pat. Nos. 2,035,240 and 2,051,203. The function of the comb is to loosen threads, hairs and such surface litter so that it can be entrained in the airflow created by the nozzle and vacuum cleaner associated therewith. However, the combs heretofore known had to be made movable so that the teeth were retracted when the nozzle was used for cleaning a looped pile rug, hooked rug or rag rug. If the teeth of the comb are left in extended position, because the user forgot to examine the nozzle, it was possible that a looped pile, hooked or rag rug would be damaged by the comb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention a litter comb is provided which is fixed on the nozzle and is useful with all rugs. The litter comb according to the invention consists of a metal rod having a spiraled, knurled surface and such a comb can be fixed on the nozzle because it will not damage hooked, looped or rag rugs.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide an improved litter comb for a vacuum cleaner suction nozzle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a litter comb for a suction nozzle which can be fixed on the nozzle for economic manufacture by eliminating the previous requirement of a movable litter comb that could be retracted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a litter comb that can be used with looped pile rugs, hooked rugs, and rag rugs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carpet cleaning surface of a nozzle having a litter comb according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2, 2 of FIG. 1 with the carpet cleaning surface of the tool as shown in FIG. 1 facing downwardly in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawing the vacuum cleaner nozzle consists of a body generally designated 10 having an elongated suction slot 11 bounded by surface engaging lips 12 and I3. Lips 12 are forwardly and lip 13 is to therear of the slot 11. A pair of gliding surfaces 14 are located at each end of the slot 11. A tubular extension or elbow l5 communicates with the suction slot 11 and is pivotally connected with the body as is well known. The elbow 15 is is adapted to receive a hose or conduit whereby the nozzle body 10 is connected with a vacuum cleaner (not shown).

The rear surface engaging lip 13 of the nozzle body 10 is provided with a channel 16 FIG. 2 for receiving the litter comb 17 in accordance with the inventiomThe litter comb 17 is held in the channel 16 by means of a strap 18 overlying each end of the litter comb and firmly holding the comb 17 in the channel 16 so that it cannot rotate.

The presently preferred litter comb 17 comprises a rod of any suitable material (presently steel) the entire convex surface of which is knurled, consisting of 43.6 fine, parallel teeth per inch disposed diagonally of the longitudinal axis of the rod, each tooth defining a 10 helix and all of the teeth being of the same hand. The depth of the grooves in the knurled surface are about 0.007 inch, or between 0.004 to 0.0l0 inches. The number of teeth (43.6 per inch) is a standard knurl as is the 10 helix, however non-standard knurls are also contemplated within the teaching of this invention.

The foregoing description is of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope thereof as it will be obvious that variations are possible without departing from the teaching given above.

What is claimed is: I l. A nozzle having a lip structure surrounding a suction inlet wherein the improvement comprises a litter comb incorporated in said lip structure for engagement with a floor covering; said litter comb comprising an elongated member having a convex surface, a plurality of fine, parallel teeth projecting from said surface, each tooth extending helically around the comb diagonally of the longitudinal axis of said member, said teeth covering the entire convex surface of said member, all of said teeth being of the same hand and means for securing said elongated member in fixed relation to said lip structure. 

1. A nozzle having a lip structure surrounding a suction inlet wherein the improvement comprises a litter comb incorporated in said lip structure for engagement with a floor covering; said litter comb comprising an elongated member having a convex surface, a plurality of fine, parallel teeth projecting from said surface, each tooth extending helically around the comb diagonally of the longitudinal axis of said member, said teeth covering the entire convex surface of said member, all of said teeth being of the same hand and means for securing said elongated member in fixed relation to said lip structure. 